MV Taiko

{{short description|Ship}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Taiko Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.jpg |Ship caption=Taiko in the Port of Auckland, New Zealand }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship name=*1984-1988: Barber Hector from 1988: Taiko |Ship owner=Wilhelmsen Lines |Ship operator=Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics |Ship registry={{flag|Norway}} |Ship route= |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=*Hyundai Heavy Industries Ulsan, South Korea |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number=250, |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=16 November 1983 |Ship completed=1984 |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship identification= {{IMO Number|8204975}} |Ship fate=Scrapped 21 August 2014 |Ship notes= [http://www.shippingdatabase.com/ship.php?shipid=190584 Taiko] (from the 'shippingdatabase.com' website. Accessed 11 March 2008.) }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship tonnage =*{{DWT|39,900}} {{GT|66,532}} | Ship displacement u Ship length = {{convert|262.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|32.26|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|9.78|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 2 hoistable decks, further RoRo vehicle decks | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship sail plan = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = {{convert|21|kn}} | Ship capacity = | Ship crew = 25 | Ship notes = {{cite web | title=MV Taiko | url=http://www.wilhelmsen.com/services/shipping/fleet/Pages/MVTaiko.aspx | publisher=Wilh. Wilhelmsen | date=2010 | accessdate=4 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204090111/http://www.wilhelmsen.com/services/shipping/fleet/Pages/MVTaiko.aspx | archivedate=4 February 2010 }} }}

MV Taiko was a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) freighter managed by the Norwegian-Swedish shipping line Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. She was built as Barber Hector by Hyundai Heavy Industries at Ulsan, South Korea in 1984 for Blue Funnel Line, part of the Liverpool company Ocean Transport & Trading Ltd, and was Blue Funnel's last newbuilding.{{cite book|last1=Clarkson|first1=John|last2=Harvey|first2=Bill|last3=Fenton|first3=Roy|title=Blue Funnel Line|date=1998|publisher=Ships in Focus|location=Preston|isbn=1-901703-01-0|page=178}} She was deployed on Barber Blue Sea Line, a joint venture between Blue Funnel, Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Oslo and the Broström Group of Sweden.{{cite news|title=Second of three RoRo ships ordered by BBSL|url=http://magazines.marinelink.com/Magazines/MaritimeReporter/198405/page/52|accessdate=26 June 2014|work=Maritime Reporter|date=May 1984}} In 1988 Ocean withdrew from Barber Blue Sea line and Barber Hector was sold to the Swedish partner, chartered to Wilhelmsen and renamed Taiko.{{cite web|title=M/S Barber Hector|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/barber_hector_1984.htm|publisher=Faktaomfartyg|accessdate=26 June 2014}} Wilhelmsen purchased the vessel in 1993.

Built to carry RoRo cargoes and containers, the ship initially had a tonnage of 27,990 GT. In 2008 Taiko was converted to a vehicle carrier in China, resulting in an increase to 66,532 GT. In addition to its car decks, loaded and unloaded through a ramp with 400 tonnes carrying capacity (via a 6.4 m high and 12.5 m wide hatch), it has two hoistable decks.[http://www.2wglobal.com/www/pdf/FleetInternet.pdf Fleet List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626150511/http://www.2wglobal.com/www/pdf/FleetInternet.pdf |date=26 June 2014 }} (from the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics website. Accessed 11 March 2008.)

In December 2013, Taiko was hired by the Norwegian Government to transport Syrian chemical weapons abroad for destruction, involving also the Danish cargo ship Ark Futura, under protection of the Norwegian {{sclass|Fridtjof Nansen|frigate|0}} frigate {{HNoMS|Helge Ingstad|F313|6}} and the Danish {{sclass|Absalon|support ship|0}} support ship {{ship|HDMS|Esbern Snare|L17|6}} as well as Chinese, Russian and British warships.{{cite web|title=How the Chemical components of the Syrian chemical warfare stockpile will be destroyed|url=http://www.opcw.org/special-sections/syria-and-the-opcw/frequently-asked-questions/|publisher=Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|accessdate=25 June 2014}}{{cite web|title=First load of chemical weapons has left Syria|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/press/news/2014/weapons_destruction.html?regj_oss=1&id=748880|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|accessdate=25 June 2014|location=Oslo|date=7 January 2014}}{{cite web|title=HMS Montrose thanked for her contribution to remove chemical weapons from Syria|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2014/february/17/140217-hms-montrose-syria|publisher=Royal Navy|accessdate=25 June 2014|location=London|date=17 February 2014}} Specialist military personnel were also placed on board.{{cite web|title=Historic mission in Syria nears conclusion|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/press/news/2014/syria_mission.html?regj_oss=1&id=764308|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo|accessdate=25 June 2014|date=23 June 2014}} Taiko loaded chemicals at the Syrian port of Latakia, for transport to Finland and the USA for destruction.